Koalas suffer painful conditions from burns and other injuries, as seen during the Black Summer fires. What we know about koalas is that their bodies react differently to pain medication than most other species. In collaboration with the University of Sydney, we investigated how koalas absorb, distribute and metabolise pain medications, specifically paracetamol and tramadol. This study, known as pharmacokinetics, is critically important to not only ensure the safe use of pain relief during an already stressful time of injury for this iconic species, but also to ensure the drugs are having the desired effect.  
 
Taronga has also previously investigated the pharmacokinetics of several antibiotics in koalas, the results of which have now been published.